Before and after returning to the motherland, Hong Kong received no systematic patriotic education and some young people were misled, the chief executive of the Hong Special Administrative Region said on July 10. Kong (RASHK) at a forum, noting that the HKSAR would confidently promote patriotic education in Hong Kong.
According to Ms. Lam, who spoke at the Hong Kong Patriotic Education Forum on Saturday, earlier national education had been stigmatized by people with ulterior motives and the media, which had undermined the sense of national identity of students and resulted in serious consequences.
She pointed out that in recent years, some people with malicious intentions as well as foreign forces have used the complicated social and political situation in Hong Kong to deliberately deceive young people and radicalize their minds, even encouraging extreme activities. From ancient times until today, loving one’s country is a fact and betraying it has been considered a serious crime. “Therefore, we must work together to confidently promote patriotic education in Hong Kong, promote the spirit of patriotism and restore the values of young people,” Ms. Lam noted.
Speaking at the same forum, the deputy director of the Beijing Liaison Office in Hong Kong, Tan Tie-niu, said the Hong Kong government should take the lead and establish a system to promote patriotic education, while schools must ensure that patriotism permeates the whole educational process.
Ms. Lam also announced that more initiatives will be taken in the new semester to promote patriotic education, including learning about Chinese culture and educating students about China’s history and development in order to to build their national identity; this will also require the strengthening of law studies and the organization of patriotic activities.
“Let us remember that the hope of our country is embodied by the young people and that the future of the Chinese people is in the young. Let us cultivate the youth of Hong Kong as a positive force to achieve the rejuvenation of the country and the long-term prosperity of our city, ”Ms. Lam concluded.
